It’s 6:45 a.m., and my son is slumped on the stairs, lacing his shoes. The process drags on for three minutes, each movement slow and deliberate, and my instinct as a parent is to rush him along so he doesn’t miss the bus. But I can’t help but feel a wave of sympathy wash over me. That deep, weary exhaustion is palpable, making me feel as if I’m carrying a cartoonish anvil on my back.
At least it’s spring, and the sun is finally peeking out. The birds have been chirping for a while, but during winter, it feels almost cruel to send an 11-year-old out into the cold and darkness.
Beyond my own observations and conversations with other parents, there’s a growing body of research showing that sleep deprivation is a significant issue for tweens and teens. Despite the evidence, little action has been taken to address it.
The long-standing belief has been that if we could just get our kids to bed earlier, they would be less sleep-deprived. However, even on quiet nights when homework is finished, my son struggles to drift off after showers and reading. This isn’t due to laziness; it’s biological.
As children approach puberty, their circadian rhythms shift, causing them to feel sleepy later. According to the organization Start School Later, preteens and teens aren’t biologically wired to feel tired until much later, and they struggle to wake up before 8 a.m. This clashes with early school start times, like my son’s 7:30 a.m., and most teachers will agree that students don’t truly wake up until around 9 a.m.
Sleep deprivation poses serious risks. Anyone who has battled sleeplessness knows it can lead to irritability, lack of focus, and even bouts of sadness. For teenagers, studies indicate they require around nine hours of sleep each night, yet most aren’t getting that amount. The consequences extend beyond mere tiredness; research shows that insufficient sleep can affect academic performance, increase behavioral issues, heighten depression and anxiety, and even raise the risk of accidents, particularly among newly licensed drivers.
With such compelling evidence, why aren’t school districts doing more to adjust start times? This is a critical question. Even when confronted with facts, some people still view sleep as an indulgence rather than a necessity. There are also logistical challenges, such as limited transportation options that complicate any changes to start times. Adjusting schedules is rarely cost-neutral.
However, prioritizing our children’s health must take precedence. By starting middle and high schools later, we could potentially reduce costs related to behavioral interventions and improve overall well-being. If we aim to raise healthy, productive citizens, it’s essential to advocate for changes that can lead to better outcomes.
I have been working with my local school board to push for later start times, but progress has been slow. After two years of discussions, they hope to implement changes in a few test schools next year, with no guarantee my son’s school will be included. Yet I believe this is a vital cause, not just for my child but for all kids. It’s time we recognize that we can and must do better.
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Summary:
This article discusses the issue of sleep deprivation in tweens and teens, emphasizing the biological changes that affect their sleep patterns and the consequences of insufficient rest. It advocates for later school start times to better align with adolescent circadian rhythms and the importance of prioritizing children’s health.